Blogger Callie Schott

Callie Schott, who works for John and Beezie Madden at their John Madden Sales in Cazenovia, N.Y., has let Chronicle readers have a behind-the-scenes look at the Breeder's Bridge to High Performance contest. Her series concludes as the second mare chosen for the contest, Constant Star, finishes her time at John Madden Sales.

After a full day of riding at John Madden Sales, I found myself on an evening flight out of Syracuse headed to California to try one of the last finalists in the Breeder's Bridge to High Performance contest. The plan was to arrive late Sunday evening to try Welcome BF at Branscomb Farm early Monday morning, then hop a flight back Monday afternoon, so I could be ready to ride at home on Tuesday.

It was a good plan in theory, until a delayed flight messed with my plans.

In the beginning of May, I headed out to try three of our semi-finalists for the John Madden Sales Breeder’s Bridge to Performance contest. I was on my own trying these three, as John Madden was tied up in Fédération Equestre Internationale meetings in Lausanne, Switzerland, and Beezie Madden had to hold down the fort at home in Cazenovia, N.Y., riding all the horses.

I first want to thank everyone who took the time to enter their horses in the Breeder’s Bridge To High Performance Contest. We received many great entries, and the response to this contest is wonderful and encouraging. Many have asked what we saw in the five finalists to choose them specifically out of the very talented group. I thought it would be helpful to give some insight into that process.